Good to know
In Ontario, psychologists and psychotherapists are different regulated professions. A psychologist can diagnose mental health conditions and carry out formal psychological assessments. A Registered Psychotherapist (RP) provides talk therapy but does not diagnose. Both can help with anxiety, depression, stress and relationships. CARESPACE’s counselling team in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge is made up of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Social Workers. We do not have psychologists on staff.
What a psychologist does
Psychologists in Ontario are regulated by the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (formerly the College of Psychologists of Ontario). Most hold a doctoral degree in psychology, and psychological associates hold a master’s degree with supervised experience. Psychology is one of a small number of professions in Ontario legally allowed to communicate a diagnosis of a mental health condition.
That diagnostic authority is the main practical difference. A psychologist can complete a psychoeducational assessment for a learning disability, assess for ADHD or autism, and write the kind of formal report that schools, employers, insurers or the courts sometimes require. Many psychologists also provide therapy, and some focus entirely on assessment.
What a Registered Psychotherapist does
Registered Psychotherapists are regulated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Most hold a master’s degree in counselling or psychotherapy, and all must meet the College’s training, supervision and continuing education requirements. The title RP(Qualifying) means a therapist has completed their education and is practising under clinical supervision while finishing registration.
A psychotherapist’s work is the therapy itself: helping you understand patterns, build coping skills and work through what brought you in. They use approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, emotion-focused therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. What they do not do is provide a formal diagnosis, though they can recognize when one might help and point you toward the right person.
Where Registered Social Workers fit
Registered Social Workers (RSWs) are regulated by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Social workers with a master’s degree are also authorized to practise psychotherapy in Ontario, and many work much like a psychotherapist, offering individual, couples and family counselling. Their training often brings a strong focus on your life circumstances, relationships and supports.
For most people deciding who to see, an RP and an RSW are comparable choices. The right fit depends more on the individual therapist, their approach and your comfort with them than on the letters after their name. Extended health plans commonly list both, though some plans cover one and not the other, so it is worth checking yours.
When you need a psychologist instead
You generally need a psychologist, or a physician, when you need a formal diagnosis or a written assessment. Common examples include a psychoeducational assessment for school or university accommodations, an ADHD or autism assessment, documentation for a disability claim, or a report requested by a lawyer or insurer. A psychotherapist cannot provide these, and it is better to know that before you start.
CARESPACE does not have psychologists or psychiatrists on staff. If your practitioner believes an assessment or diagnosis would help, they will say so and help you find the right route, which may be through your family doctor or a nurse practitioner. Many clients complete an assessment elsewhere and continue their regular therapy with us, using the findings to shape the work.
Counselling at CARESPACE
Counselling and psychotherapy at CARESPACE is provided by Registered Psychotherapists, RP(Qualifying) therapists and Registered Social Workers, in person at our locations across Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge or online. No referral is needed, and you can book directly online or through our Central Reception Team at 519-208-2273. Your therapist will talk through what you are looking for at your first session.
Because our mental health practitioners share a clinic with physiotherapists, dietitians, naturopathic doctors and nurse practitioners, they can bring in a colleague when something outside therapy is affecting how you feel, such as chronic pain, sleep or nutrition. You pay at each visit and receive a detailed receipt to submit to your extended health plan; many plans reimburse RP and RSW services, so check your plan for the details.
Related questions
Can a psychotherapist diagnose anxiety or depression in Ontario?
No. In Ontario, communicating a diagnosis is a controlled act limited to certain professions, including psychologists, physicians and nurse practitioners. A Registered Psychotherapist can assess your symptoms, work with you on them and tell you if a formal diagnosis seems worth pursuing, but the diagnosis itself has to come from someone with that authority. Many people receive effective therapy without ever needing a formal diagnosis.
Is a psychologist better than a psychotherapist for therapy?
Not necessarily. For talk therapy itself, the fit between you and your therapist and the approach they use matter a great deal, whatever their designation. Psychologists have more years of academic training and can diagnose, which matters when you need an assessment. For ongoing therapy for anxiety, depression, stress, grief or relationship concerns, a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker is a well-qualified choice, and usually easier to access.
Will my insurance cover a psychotherapist or social worker?
Many extended health plans reimburse sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker, but plans vary. Some cover only psychologists, some list specific designations, and most set an annual maximum. CARESPACE does not bill insurers directly; you pay at your visit and receive a detailed receipt showing your therapist’s registration to submit to your plan. Check your plan documents or call your insurer before your first session.
Related pages
Ready to book?
Book online with any practitioner above, or call 519-208-2273 and our Central Reception Team will match you with the right person and the closest location.